Cleat cleaner



y 26, 1959 HJN. CLARK 2,887,713

I CLEAT CLEANER Filed Aug. 31, 1956 flew/ff /1 C/ark INVENTOR.

- Bwv'y f United States Patent CLEAT CLEANER Hewitt N. Clark, Houston, Tex.

Application August 31, 1956, Serial No. 607,308

2 Claims. (Cl. 237) The present invention relates to a cleaner for cleats, spikes and the like on shoes and, more particularly, to a cleat cleaner for golf shoes and the like.

In sports, for example golf, difliculty has been encountered in cleaning dirt and other material around or held by the cleats of golf shoes. This is particularly true when the ground is wet or muddy and the wet mud shoe on the cleaner and moves it generally downwardly along the cleaning surface of the cleat cleaner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a cleat cleaner which may be placed at various points about the course so that players may clean their cleats from time to time as required.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of a cleat cleaner having an inclined surface and a plurality of cleaning elements or projections so arranged to pass between the cleats when a generally downward movement is made by the wearer thus moving the cleats through the cleaning elements and thereby cleaning the shoes.

A still further object is the provision of such a cleat cleaner which may be cast in a single mold and hence is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further features, advantages and objects will be apparent from the following description of a presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where:

Figure l is a perspective view of a cleat cleaner according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the cleaning surface of the cleat cleaner shown with a golf shoe being cleaned.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, the cleat cleaner is designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a base 12 comprised of the spaced, transverse elongate feet 14 and 16 joined by the longitudinal base member 18. A pair of uprights 20 and 22 extend upwardly from the longitudinal base member 18 and support the plate-like cleaning member, preferably at an angle so that the bottom of a shoe to be cleaned can comfortably be placed by the wearer on the cleaning member and moved downwardly at a comfortable angle. The cleaning projections 26 extend prefer- 2,887,713 Patented May 26, 1959 "ice ably at right angles to the flat cleaning surface 24, although they may be otherwise disposed, and pass between the cleats or spikes of the golf shoes as the shoe is moved along the cleaning surface 24.

Preferably, the cleaning projections 26 should be at least as long as or slightly longer than the cleats 28 of the golf shoe 30, as shown in Figure 2, to insure cleaning dirt, mud or other material from between the cleats 28.

The cleaner may be made from any material strong enough for the use and conditions of use. It may be cast from cast iron or fabricated of other materials and may be integral or formed of various parts and secured together.

As shown, the back leg 16 may be raised at its central portion 32 to assist in providing the desired tilt to the cleaning surface 24. In addition, the uprights may suitably be braced, for example, by providing the flange or bracing member 34 for the upright supporting member 24. In addition, the forward upright 20 may be tilted backwardly slightly, if desired, as illustrated in Figure 1.

In use, the cleaner is placed on the ground and the transverse feet members 14 and 16 tend to sink in the ground and anchor the cleat cleaner.

A person merely places the bottom of his shoe on the cleaning surface 24 or rather against the upper parts of the cleaning projections 26 and moves his foot downwardly in a direction generally the same as that of the cleaning plate or surface 24.

The base 18 may be changed as desired or circumstances dictate. For example, spikes may be provided which sink into the ground or the cleaner may be set in a concrete base. The construction of the base will depend to a large extent upon whether the cleaner is to be used inside or outside and on the floor, a hard surface or the ground.

While this invention is exceedingly well suited for use in cleaning cleats of golf shoes, and the description for the purpose of disclosure has been directed toward that use, other uses will readily be apparent for cleaning other types of shoes having spikes, cleats and other projections.

The present invention therefore is well suited to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. Many changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made which are within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A cleat cleaner comprising, a base including a pair of spaced transverse foot members and a longitudinal base member joined to the upper central portion of each transverse foot member, a pair of spaced uprights extending upwardly from the longitudinal member, a rigid cleaning member provided with a relatively fiat face supported by said uprights at an angle to said base, and a plurality of unyielding cleaning projections rigidly secured to and extending upwardly generally at right angles from the face of the cleaning member and spaced from one another so that they pass between cleats of a shoe placed on the cleat cleaner and moved relative thereto, said cleaning projections being longer than the cleats.

2. The cleat cleaner of claim 1 where the entire cleat cleaner is an integral casting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS p. 48,826 Knowles Apr. 4, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,856 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1902 733,443 Great Britain July 13, 1955 

